Stats show Philippe Coutinho is EPL’s Player of the Season (so far)

LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - SEPTEMBER 24: Philippe Coutinho of Liverpool scores their fourth goal during the Premier League match between Liverpool and Hull City at Anfield on September 24, 2016 in Liverpool, England. 

Philippe Coutinho is stealing the Premier League spotlight, in a 2016-17 season stacked with some of football’s top names.

The 24-year-old has been in inspired form for Liverpool this season and exclusive stats revealed by fantasy football game oulala.com show that the Reds winger is ‘statistically’ the best player in the English top-flight after the opening seven games.

The Brazilian has been vital to five wins which see Jurgen Klopp’s side sitting fourth on the table. He has recorded three goals from seven appearances – including a brace in the opening game against Arsenal and a goal against Hull, while also proving assists in the 5-1 demolition of the Tigers and against Chelsea.

A total of 29 shots has Coutinho sitting second in terms of total attempts, while he is also inside the league’s top 10 in terms of successful take-ons.

The Brazilian ranks 11th for both key passes and created chances for teammates, illustrating just how vital he is to the Reds’ hopes of scoring goals.

Will Coutinho’s form continue to lead Liverpool to the summit of English football?

Philippe Coutinho to PSG: Liverpool star gives ‘positive’ reaction after contact from Ligue 1 champions over £46m move

Reports in France say PSG have made Brazilian a top target

PHILIPPE COUTINHO reacted ‘positively’ when informed about a possible move by Paris Saint-Germain, according to reports in France.

The Liverpool forward, voted the club’s fans and players’ player of the year twice in a row, had another fantastic season for the Reds.

However, French magazine Le 10 Sport report that Coutinho is seen as an excellent option to replace departing talisman Zlatan Ibrahimovic.

Philippe Coutinho is wanted by PSG, according to reports in France PA:Press Association

The Brazilian has been named the club's player of the year for the last two seasons AP:Associated Press

With the Swede set to leave the Parc des Princes this summer, PSG are searching for a marquee signing.

Coutinho is one of a handful of names identified as a potential replacement for thr 34-year-old striker.

Manchester United’s Anthony Martial, Chelsea winger Eden Hazard, Napoli striker Gonzalo Higuain and Everton’s Romelu Lukaku have all been mentioned as being on a shortlist to replace Ibrahimovic.

The report claims that PSG have already made contact with Coutinho’s entourage and received a ‘positive’ response.

The 23-year-old wants to play Champions League football but Jurgen Klopp’s side failed to secure a place in Europe’s top competition last season.

Philippe Coutinho will play at the Copa America with Brazil AP:Associated Press

PSG are looking for a marquee signing to replace Zlatan Ibrahimovic

PSG have also apparently said they would be willing to pay around £46million to bring Coutinho to France.

One potential hiccup is that the Ligue 1 champions have already used up all three of the non-EU slots in their squad.

That would mean one of Maxwell or Lucas Moura would have to leave first.

Philippe Coutinho, Kane, Vardy: Names of the Premier League, Week 13

But despite the widespread, lazy myth that recruiting English talent from the lower leagues is prohibitively expensive, few of those 18 England players cost a king's ransom when moving to the top flight.

"It's been an incredible rise from non-league football right through to the Premier League but the biggest jump in some ways has been the meteoric rise in the last 12 months", Neville said. They've come from nowhere - favourites for relegation a year ago - and now they are leading the Premier League.

Table-toppers Leicester, who have just two league wins in 18 encounters with United, have a tough run of fixtures as they face five of last season's top eight in their next six league games. The Foxes have thus far played against Sunderland, West Ham, Tottenham, Bournemouth, Aston Villa, Stoke, Arsenal,Norwich, Southampton, Crystal Palace, West Brom, Watford and Newcastle.

"There was no secret, no magic system, no rash of panic signings from all over the world, no excess squad players moping around creating a flat atmosphere".

Former Manchester United defender Gary Neville believes Manchester City should be "walking" their way to the Premier League title.

Vardy is now the Premier League's top goalscorer and equalled Ruud van Nistlerooy's record of scoring in 10-consecutive matches in the 3-0 win at Newcastle on Saturday.

Stan Collymore says that Tottenham Hotspur, Liverpool and Leicester City are similar to his former club Nottingham Forest.

Vardy has also been called up to the English National Team on several occasions, but has yet to record a goal on the global stage. I know them, they have 20,000 fans in the third division.

The hosting Magpies have found the net just once in their last four Premier League outings.

Roberto Martinez's Toffees managed two 2-2 draws with Leicester last season.

Meanwhile, Liverpool's progress under the new Jurgen Klopp regime has been well-documented, and one that secured Leicester's place at the top of the table for at least a week.

"However, by about February or March, you got to a point where you were looking at Jamie Vardy and you were seeing a big improvement happening".

Liverpool's Philippe Coutinho fired 13 places up the charts to No 3 after the Brazilian scored and dismantled Manchester City during the Reds' 4-1 victory at the Ethiad on Saturday.

We wouldn't be talking about Leicester seat on the perch had Manchester City taken care of business against Liverpool.

The result ended a run of three matches without defeat for the visiting Hammers at White Hart Lane. Whether they remain top come 2016 is hard to gauge, but they will still be in the thereabouts.